Rupert Murdoch’s secret moves to destroy public broadcasting in Australia

In hours, Murdoch could secure his stranglehold on the Australian media by acquiring our public international TV news network — and rob a struggling ABC of $223 million in funding. Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is under pressure to give control over the network to Murdoch instead of the ABC – Murdoch’s mouthpiece The Australian has been leaking details of insider support for Murdoch in a blatant attempt to force Labor into backing his bid. Conroy knows that giving the network to Murdoch would greatly increase the media mogul’s corrupting influence and hurt the ABC, and is looking for a way out.

Rupert Murdoch already owns 70 percent of Australia’s newspapers. Now he’s on the hunt for more media control, and he’s hoping we won’t notice. Through his stake in Australian News Channel, he’s been pushing hard to take over the crucial but low-key ‘Australia Network’: an Australian international public broadcaster that’s available in 44 countries. Murdoch has shown that his empire ruthlessly puts profits above all else — even hacking a murdered school girl’s phone to increase sales. With this extra network, Murdoch would vastly increase his power and take control of Australia’s public image abroad.

The move is also a key part of his strategy to destroy public broadcasting and silence independent voices. Murdoch knows that the loss of $223 million in funding would severely weaken an already stretched ABC. It would mean the loss of many ABC journalists, and potential closures of overseas news offices. If we let Murdoch win, Australia will become the first country in the world to privatise its international news service….

SOURCES:

Tensions rise over Australia Network bid
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/tensions-rise-over-australia-network-bid-20111017-1ltfy.html

ABC staff hang on tender result
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/abc-staff-hang-on-tender-result/story-e6frg996-1226177744169

Murdoch’s only real interest is No.1
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/murdochs-only-real-interest-is-no1-20110711-1hal8.html

Will Australia’s satellite TV service head Skywards
http://inside.org.au/will-australia%E2%80%99s-satellite-tv-service-head-skywards/

NotW scandal: Conroy must play probity card in Oz Network contract
http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/07/05/notw-scandal-conroy-must-play-probity-card-in-oz-network-contract/

James Murdoch hits out at BBC and regulators at Edinburgh TV festival
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/28/james-murdoch-bbc-mactaggart-edinburgh-tv-festival

http://www.avaaz.org/en/murdochs_secret_abc_attack/?vl